bpm:tv producer Declan O’Driscoll went to Miami last month and all we got was … this frickin’ awesome photo album. Check out Declan’s amazing behind-the-scenes images from WMC 2012, featuring the likes of Steve Aoki, Skrillex, Deadmau5, Calvin Harris, BT, Jes and many others — and stay tuned for a special Miami edition of bpm Spotlight, coming soon. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PHOTO GALLERY.
Though the week just past did bring the release of new tracks from Sound Remedy and Porter Robinson,plus an album from Rusko, it felt on the whole like the electronic music world was suffering from a bit of a WMC hangover. Everybody seemed to be functioning on half-speed. Still, I believe the majority were fuelling their tanks for what promises to be a summer to remember.
Skream and Benga absolutely killed The Hoxton in Toronto on Thursday night, These two never seem to deliver a weak set. If ever you have the chance, be sure to check them out.
Now, on to the sweets!
This is probably one of the best EPs I’ve heard so far this year. Expect Sound Remedy to be a household name very very soon.
bpm:tv producer Declan O’Driscoll has been down in the Sunshine State covering Miami Music Week 2012. Here’s a sampling of his photos from the week’s biggest events.
The eve of Miami Music Week, and you always knew these sweets were going to be something special — so sit back my friend, because it’s about to get a little hectic. Got some exclusive brand new cuts here from big names and no-names, major players and underground movers. This time of year you can’t help but smile. Suddenly it feels like springtime outside, and that calls for a toast. Coincidentally it’s also St. Paddy’s Day this weekend — which means, for those who can’t make the trip to sunny Florida, there are green beverages to take the pain away.
Enough chit chat. Let’s get in to it — with Tiësto remixing Canada’s own Autoerotique! This is incredibly huge: biggest, baddest Tiësto tune since “Strings.” Yeah, I said it!
How many times can a song be remixed? At least one more, apparently. This take on Lana Del Rey‘s “Blue Jeans” has surpassed Kris Menace‘s mix as my fave. And wow — there is no label with more momentum than Bromance Records right now.
Iy-yi-yi … not gonna lie, I didn’t know much about Delta Heavy until about 27 hours ago, when this dropped. This is the kind of dubstep I love: not just smashing your face in, but doing it with a melodic touch. Enjoy!!!
Diplo is everywhere this week. Check out the new visuals for “Express Yourself.”
Swedish House Mafia are superheros. Not gonna lie — this video is pretty dope.
This, of course, is only the tip of the iceberg — many more songs will be released throughout the week. Be sure to check in every day, as this is the first place all those new tracks will be posted……xx
For EDM junkies, March is kind of a wet dream. All of our favorite artists seem to be leaking new tracks that you can expect to hear during their sets at Ultra Music Festival and throughout the Winter Music Conference. Every day seems to offer up enough new material to fill a “Sweets of the Week” post. From Deadmau5 to Dillon Francis to an entire mixtape from Skrillex‘s OWSLA label, it’s like being a sugar fiend with a fresh bag of Gummi Worms.
I won’t go into detail about all of these tracks; we’ll save that for Friday. But I do want to highlight one specific track — ’cause Boys Noize and Erol Alkan are at it again! The twin kings of techno are back on their combination game, and haven’t lost a step. Based on the preview, their two new tracks, “Roland Rat” and “Brain Storm,” may actually be even better than “Lemonade” or “Avalanche,” if that’s possible. These two acts have some sort of telepathic connection, and it works so so well. Another treat from the mad geniuses at BNR.
With March almost here, the EDM season is about to kick off. The Ultra Music Festivalis looking awesome, as always — and unfortunately, it’s sold out. But what about some of the other destination events for all us house junkies?
Coachella, one of the biggest musical festivals out there, has taken on a definite EDM feel, so I’d call that one a top priority. Alas, those tickets have come and gone, too, and the sound of teardrops hitting the ground can be heard throughout the land.
But wait! Turn that frown upside down. The Electric Daisy Carnival is returning to Las Vegas (June 8-10), and I have a feeling this one will be even bigger than before. But don’t just take my word for it — check out the visuals HERE, call your friends and plan your trip. We’ll be there. Will you?
This week we see the continuing evolution of bassssssss, as Feed Me and Gemini team up on “Whiskers.” Even heavier and nastier is the newest remix from Adventure Club, who are quickly becoming big dawgs in the dub world. So what if nearly all of what they put out is remixes? All of them are fire. This remix of Foxes‘ “Youth” might just be their best yet. Like I said, heavy!!!!
We also had the release of Steve Aoki‘s “Ladi Dadi” remixes, featuring some of our favourite artists. But the highlight of the week had to be the return of Bob Sinclar. It’s been a long time since we’ve heard anything new from Sinclar — so long I’d practically forgotten he used to hold a top five position on the DJ Mag 100. But on the evidence of these two new tracks — both fun and easy on the ears — I have a feeling that come the middle of summer he’ll be headlining once again at all the big events.
By the way, WMC 2012 in Miami is just around the corner; look out for some announcements next week. Keep it locked!
After an incredible EDM weekend in Canada’s largest city, I think it’s safe to say that electronic dance music is bigger than it’s ever been before — and I can only see it growing in 2012. This is an exciting time for all fans of the genre.
Best way to celebrate the year that was: a look back at some of the best festivals, videos and tracks of the year!
The Ultra Music Festival is always something to be seen. Miami plays host to this monster event in March, and bpm:tv was there this past spring to soak up some of the action. There was concern this year that things weren’t going to be the same, since Ultra and the Winter Music Conference planned their respective events a week apart. But Ultra has the DJs, so Ultra has the scene — simple as that. With luck, this coming year will be a little more organziee. But no matter what happens, WMC is a must for any EDM fan.
Let’s take a look at this year’s Miami extravaganza through the eyes of Kaskade, the Ultra team, Steve Aoki and the Dim Mak camp!
bpm:tv’s Declan O’Driscoll was at Miami Music Week. Here’s his review of a performance by Canada’s Deadmau5 at the Arkadia nightclub on Saturday March 26.
Deadmau5’s label Mau5trap Records held a small industry night at Arkadia, the new nightclub at the Fountainebleau; we were invited as guests by Moguai, the first producer to be signed by Mau5trap. This party was the highlight of the Miami trip for me.
Deadmau5 is a producer I have a lot of respect for. From day one I’ve really connected with his music — and at the Mau5trap label night, I really learned why. When he DJs he is so focused on the music, every layer of it; the production doesn’t stop. You see him piece it all together as it streams out of the speaker box into the room. There were only a few moments when he wasn’t manipulating the sound. Some DJs I’ve seen spend most of their time rocking out to the music they’re playing, and focusing their energy solely on the mixes — and there ain’t nothing wrong with that. Deadmau5, on the other hand, is a man with focused energy all the way through, and it blew my mind.
His set was most definitely a journey through sound … that is, until Tommy Lee accidentally stopped the music while sorting through cables on his set-up. It was actually a little bit of magic: a fun part of the night that gave that crowd a moment to show their appreciation for both Tommy and Deadmau5. Everyone cheered, we got a little vignette between them as they laughed and blamed each other for the silence. When the music came back on, the bliss continued, “Brazil” took us out to the end, and Tommy Lee took it over from there.
People were freaking out! Loving it! At one point, with Skrillex hanging out on the side stage, Deadmau5 decided to bust out Skrillex’s remix of Benassi’s “Cinema.” Before it happened, I’d spotted Skrillex just chillin’ quietly by himself, enjoying the music. When Deadmau5 saw him there, he moved to his computer, then his mixer, and suddenly we caught hints of “Cinema,” beats here and there. Skrillex heard it and smiled, but continued to quietly listen. Deadmau5 turned and looked at Skrillex, Skrillex looked at him and then: Bam! “Cinema”! Skrillex was quiet no more. As Deadmau5 paid homage, Skrillex was up there beside him, grabbing knobs and twisting it up a bit.
After that Deadmau5 did some crazy shit, mental mixes that obviously surprised himself as well everyone else on stage. Everyone was trippin’ on the mixes — including Mr. Joel Zimmerman himself. Deadmau5 was twisting knobs up and catching up to the beat in ways that he was inventing on the spot.
That’s what I loved the most about the set: it was all being formed as it went. He wasn’t acting like a god up there; he was just being a part of it.